hyperlink window hidden on first use

[tonyd]

I am using RapidPHP 2010 v116 on XP (sp3).

When I use the 'hyperlink' button the first time RapidPHP is run after my PC has been booted up, the floating window hides behind the editor window, giving the impression that the editor has frozen. The task manager then shows that the editor is not unresponsive which lead me to realise that the hyperlink window was behind the main editor window.

On subsequent use, the hyperlink window comes to the front as would be expected, even after quitting Rapidphp and restarting. This problem is quite solid: I have reproduced it three days in a row. Today I made the editor window very small first, so I could get this screen-shot to illustrate the problem.



I didn't use the hyperlink button on Rapidphp 2008, so I don't know if this issue is new in the 2010 version.

BTW I'm a great fan of this editor!

[Karlis]

Is it only hyperlink button or also other buttons such as Image? I have never seen this behavior and even have not heard about it as it does not happen on any of our computers, including XPs.

[stevebroski]

I have a similar problem that occurs with the color picker popup (Rapid PHP 10.0.2.118 on Vista Business) The window appears fine, but after a few seconds will suddenly hide behind the application - effectively locking up the program until I manage to regain focus on the color window. I usually have to click on the Rapid PHP task in my taskbar a couple times until the color window re-emerges on top.

In my case it's related to UltraMon, a utility that adds functionality to dual-monitor setups. If I disable Ultramon, Rapid PHP works fine though the loss of UltraMon functionality is very annoying. This was not an issue with Rapid PHP 2008.

EDIT: This situation only occurs when UltraMon is set to add extra icons to windows that allow for swapping the window to the other screen and maximizing across both screens. With the extra buttons removed, the issues doesn't exist. I can live without the buttons as keyboard shortcuts work fine.

Don't know if it's a Rapid PHP or Ultramon issue. Does seem odd problem didn't exist prior to v.2010 though.

[x3po]

In WB 2010(10.0.2.118) i experienced, that when i click the link "replacement tokens" in the edit snippet window, the help window appears in the background, and i'm not able to open(switch to) it!

[tonyd]

Is it only hyperlink button or also other buttons such as Image? I have never seen this behavior and even have not heard about it as it does not happen on any of our computers, including XPs.

This morning I tried with the Image button. I saw the same behaviour, suggesting it is a generic problem. This time I watched it very closely. After a delay of a few seconds the Image window flashed to the foreground before disappearing behind the editor window. I clicked a few times on the editor window and nothing happened until after what seemed like about 20 seconds when the Image window appeared in the foreground, allowing me to enter the data.

As with the Hyperlink button, normal behaviour occurs subsequently (i.e. the window comes up in the foreground immediately), even after restarting RapidPHP. The problem only shows on the first try after the PC is fired up.

I am not augmenting RapidPHP with any other software

[Karlis]

I need following confirmations:

1) This never happened in 2008 and only happens with version 2010

2) We now know that this happens if UltraMon is isntalled. What could be other possible causes?

[tonyd]

I tried with RapidPHP 2008 this morning (which is still installed on the same PC as the 2010 version). The behaviour is similar but my perception was that it corrected itself somewhat sooner.

I started up RapidPHP 2008, positioned the cursor in a file and hit the Hyperlink button. After what I guess was about 10 seconds the hyperlink window popped to the foreground. Trying a second time the hyperlink window came up immediately.

Once you know this delay is going to happen the first time you use a button that pops up a window it's not really a problem. All that is required is patience!

Since I can reproduce this at will, I'll get some actual timings on the delay over the next couple of days on the 2008/2010 versions. That should establish whether or not the 2010 behaviour is the same as with the 2008 version. I vaguely recall having seen this behaviour with the Find window in RapidPHP 2008, but it didn't bother me much at the time.

My PC is running fully patched Windows XP with McAfee SecurityCentre firewall and antivirus enabled.

I could also repeat the test with the McAfee software disabled if you think this may be the culprit?

UPDATE
My PC was rebooted for some software update so I retested 2008 vs 2010. In each case after clicking on the Hyperlink button there was a delay that I timed as approximately 10 seconds before the hyperlink window appeared in the foreground. So there is no difference between RapidPHP 2008 and 2010 in this issue.

[MikeyB]

Just tested this with my install of WeBuilder 2010.

There is a delay the 1st time the Hyperlink window appears, but it is probably about half a second at most on my PC.
After that it's immediate.

Running XP Pro SP3.

[tonyd]

Karlis, I have the explanation for this issue now. It's entirely down to dear old McAfee...

Today I watched the process CPU usage during the long delay after clicking on the Hyperlink button: the McAfee component McShield.exe was using 55%-98% of the CPU. Then I restarted the PC and temporarily disabled McAfee's real-time virus scanning and script scanning. The Hyperlink window came up in the foreground straight away - problem solved!

McAfee comes for free with my broadband supplier so I guess I'll stick with it, but it's so intrusive that sometimes you wonder...

- Tony

[Karlis]

Tony, your help has been invaluable. I just do not know what to do now as our code is correct and there is nothing wrong in the design.

Many external and rarely used dialogs such as Hyperling, Image etc. are stored in a .dll file because it allows us to have smaller, faster, more memory-efficient exe file. Now when a command such as Hyperlink is activated, main program loads the feature from the dll file. It seems that McAfee is not only scanning or analyzing this but also messing with the algorithm (probably stopping the loading of dll while it does its scan) and thus the lag.

I so not have McAfee, but I am guessing there should be some white-list or exclusions where you can put the code editor program to avoid McAfeescanning it.